Terry710: Gordo...I have two questions..#1 In the future the Cards will begin contract extension talks with Albert, do you believe ownership will offer him a "lifetime" contract?... #2..I have noticed many baseball players are wearing a cord necklace. Is it a good luck charm??

Jeff Gordon: Not a necklace guy, can't help you there.

Will the Cards buck up for Albert? Can't promise that, but this ownership has a great track record with the very best players. With so much talent in development, affording a $20 million-plus player is much easier. And staying in the hunt year after year is easier -- and that means everything to Albert.

captain hero: What is the deal with all the beards on the Cardinals?

Jeff Gordon: Good question. The guys must be have been expecting a cold April in St. Louis.

virginiatom: Gordo, I hope Billy and Spags see this and agree that while building from the inside out is smart, so is having a game changing, pro-bowl caliber impact player at your key skill positions. We have no one on the Rams who fits that bill, other than maybe Steven Jackson, when he is healthy. The Rams defense has no leadership, and no one who played last year on D seems capable of stepping up this year to do that. Curry seems to have all those natural qualities, as well as ability. I would be ok with an offensive tackle with the #2 pick if he was the best player available at #2 instead of just the best tackle to fill a need we have. Pro-bowl players with attitude bring excitement to the game, and we have been lacking that for so long on defense. And they make everyone around them better. Please Spags, help us out here!

Jeff Gordon: If the Rams staff came out of the minicamp believing Draft could handle MLB for a year, then the pick of Smith or Monroe at OT seems obvious. I'd rather see them tackle Curry, then maneuver to take an OT next.

JohnnyN: Hi Gordo,
What a weekenend for the STL sportsfan!! Couple of questions for you...

How long of a leash do the Cards give Wellemeyer?

How do the Blues match up against the Canucks?

Why has Macklin slipped so far down in the lastest projected NFL draft boards?

Thanks as always for your insight andhard work. J.

Jeff Gordon: Maclin is up on some boards, actually, thanks to Harvin's issues and Crabtree's health. He'll be OK.

The Blues are OK against Vancouver. They split their games in the second half of the season. Mason will have to play great, though.

Wellemeyer has a decent leash, due to his success last season. As long as the Cards have three or four starters clicking at once, they can be patient with a guy. And the options at Memphis right now would rank as just OK.

steve: Gordo:

If Duncan continues to hit like the pre-injury Duncan, and Rasmus proves a legitimate big-league outfielder, do you see the Cards shopping Ankiel for a need (3rd base or closer come to mind) because of the difficulty they perceive in signing Ankiel to a long-term contract (Boras)?

Also, what is it about Glaus' injury do you know that we don't that makes you think he may not return at all this year?

Thanks

Jeff Gordon: Whenever a player runs off to rehab a shoulder injury for a couple of months, that is not good. That puts his recover on a very long arc, perhaps longer than this season. Even if he feels great by June, then he would need to play three weeks of baseball somewhere before returning to the majors. If his rehab drags past June, then you write the guy off and move along.

The Cards will have to trade OFs at some point because they are stacking up on the depth chart. I can see the Cards dealing one for a reliever at some point. Third base? The prospects are stacked up there, too.